Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1887-07-27
CHAPTER XXI.
JESS FINDS A FRIEND.

The Beers swooped down on them with
shout, like q hawk on sparrow. John pulled
up his horse and drew his revolver.
Don't, don't!" cried jess; "our only chance
is to BIZ CIVIL" whereon, thinking better of the
matter, he replaced it, and wished the lead
ing Boer good day.
Dutchman; whereon Jess explained that they
had pass-which John promptly produced
and were proceeding to Mooifontein.
"Ah, ON Crofts" said the Boer as he took
the pass; @you are likely to meet burying
party there" and at the time jess did not
understand what he meant Hee eyed the pass
suspiciously all over, and then asked how it
came to be stained with water.
jess, not daring to tell the truth, said that
it had been dropped into puddle The Boer
was about to return it, when suddenly his eye
fell upon Jess saddle.
allow is it that the girl is riding OH mems
saddle!" he asked. "Whv, know that sad
die; let me look at the other side Yes, there
is bullet hole through the flap. That is
Swart Dirk's saddle. How did you get it?"
~ bought it from him." answered jess,
without moments hesitation. II could get
nothing to ride on"
The Boer shook his head. "Thcre are
plenty Of saddles in Pretoria" he said "and
these are not the days when man sells his
saddle to an English girl. All! and that other
is Boer saddle, too. No Englishman has
saddle cloth like that This pass is not suf-
ficient," he went on, in cold tone; ut should
have been countersigned by the local COM
mandant must arrest YOU"
Jess began to make further excuses, but he
merely repeated, 81 must arrest you," and
gave some orders to the men with him.
1--WE are in for it again." she said to John;
"and there is nothing for it but to CO."
II shan't mind SO much if only they will
give us some grub" said John, philosophi-
cally. II am half starved"
"And am half dead" said jess, with
little laugh. II wish they would shoot us and
have done with it"
"Comc, cheer up, Jess," he answered; 'per-
haps the luck is going to change"
She shook her head with the air Of one who
expects the worst, and then some gay young
spirits among the Beers came up and made
things pleasant by an exhibition Of their pol
ished wit, which they chiefly exercised at the
expense of poor jess, whose appearance was,
rs muy well be imagined, exceedingly
WIcCcneu anu IoTlOTn, 50 lnucu so tptAo ~
would have moved the pity of most people.
But these specimens of the golden youth OF
simple pastoral folk found in it o rich mine
of opportunities They asked her if she
would not like to ride straddle legged, and il
she had bought her dress from an old Hotten-
tot who had done with it, and if she had been
rolling about tipsy in the veldt to get oil the
mud on it; and generally availed themselves
of this unparalleled occasion to be witty at
the expense of an English lady Ill sore dis
trcss. Indeed, one gay young dog, called ia
cobus, was proceeding from jokes linguistic
to jokes practical. Perceivins that
Jess only kept her seat on the
mans saddle by the exercise OF Gu
rious faculty of balance, it occurred to him
that it would be fine thing to upset 1t ana
make her fall upon her face. Accordingly,
with sudden twist Of the rein he brought
his horse sharply against her wearied ANIMAL
nearly throwing it down; but she was too
quick for him. and saved herself by catching
at the manc Jess said nothing; indeed, she
made no answer to her tormentors, ana fortu-
nately John understood very little OF what
they were saying. Presently, however, the
young Boer made another attempt, putting
out his hand to give her sly push: and, as 1t